Bottle-stoppering mechanism.



J. H. BRANDT.

BOTTLE STOPPERI NG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1909.

966,647. A jPatented Aug.9, 1910. v

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J. H. BRANDT.

BOTTLE STOPPBRING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 27,1909.

Patented Aug. 9,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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J. H. BRANDT.

BOTTLE STOPPEEING MECHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 27,1909.

966,647. Patented Aug. 9,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JOSEPH H. BRANDT, OF-PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IBOTTL-E-STOIPPERING MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBottle-stoppering Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bottle stoppering mechanism in which diversforms of stoppering units are delivered consecutively from containingmagazines, to the openings of vessels suitably disposed thereto.

lVhile it has been my object to design a mechanism having the elementsof commercial success, inasmuch as the same shall operate harmoniouslyin conjunction with asuitable bottle filling machine, be absolutelyautomatic, certain and rapid in action and capable of indefinite scopewith respect to capacity, it has also been an object to so arrange thedetails that a single operative magazine may be used by itself, if sodesired, as a hand stoppering device; and further, to so design theparts that they are alike efficient in operating upon all forms ofstoppers, or closures, of any material whatever, such as glass,earthenware, metal,

wood, cork, paper and the like, depositingthe same within the properopenings of ugs, jars, bottles, metal cans or other receptacles capableof containing liquids. But the prime object of my invention has been toso arrange and construct the several parts that they may be individuallyor collectively subjected to such treatment as to render the sameantiseptically clean and free from bacteriological germs, while thesterilized stoppers contained within the magazines and operated by themechanism are prevented from coming in contact with any source ofpossible pollution or contamination, as the person or hand of themachine operator, such contact not being desirable or even possible.These several objects are thought tohave been obtained by the mechanismhereinafter fully described, claimed and illustrated by the drawingsannexed hereunto and forming part of these specifications, and in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a complete machine for filling andstoppering bottles with glass stoppers. Fig. 2, is an end elevation ofthe same mechanism. Fig. 3,, is a sectional view showing a magazine inits lower or normal position. Fig. 4, is a sec- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed July 27, 1909.

Patented Aug. 9, 1910.

Serial No. 509,925.

tional view of the same, but showing the magazine raised and deliveringa stopper. Fig. 5, is a perspective View of the table or bottle caseelevator. Fig. 6, is a similar View of the same, showing a portion ofthe upper plate section broken away. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of atable indicating an alternative form of construction, and Fig. 8, is asectional view of a fragment of the lower section of the table.

All like parts are denoted by like characters throughout the severalviews.

The general scheme of the machine, as indicated, comprises a substantialframe-work, supported by suitable uprights resting on the floor or otherfoundation; at a convenient height is a track-way horizontally disposedand extending beyond the uprights at each end sufficiently toaccommodate one or more of the cases used to contain the bottles. Onthis track-way reposes a carrier capable of longitudinal travel andprovided at one end with a lever or other suitable means of operation;at proper intervals on the upper surface of the carrier are projectionsor clips designed to contact with the ends of the bottle cases, whichrest normally on the trackway and are moved step by step, at eachsuccessive operation by reason of their contact with the said clips. Theseveral uprights extend considerably above the track-way, formingsupports for the liquid reservoir, filling mechanism and the like, atone end of the machine; While at the other end similar extensionsprovide means for supporting and guiding the stoppering mechanism,consisting of the magazines 1, which may be disposed vertically orangularly, as shown, according to the nature and wei ht of the stoppersused. The lower ends of the magazines 1, if the same be disposed at anangle, have bends or elbows 2, below which are vertical downwardlyextending portions 3, having carrying lugs 4, and provided withapertures 5, through which the lower detent ends 6, of the catches 7enter the walls of the magazine 1, retaining or withholding the stoppers8 from premature delivery.

Parallel to the track-way and at a distance above is a plate 9, rigidlysecured to the uprights, said plate being provided with a series ofapertures through which pass the lower ends of the stopper magazines 1;each aperture is elongated on opposite'sides and arranged to have theefiect of a cam in opcrating on the upper arms 10, of the catches shaft11, and which are provided with studs and rollers 14, the lattercontacting, when the handle is operated, with suitable proj ectinglevers 15, extending rearwardly from I the front supports and adapted tooperate the filling mechanism; said shaft 11 is furthermore connectedwith suitable links 16, to the table 17, below the filling andstoppering mechanism, the tops of the tables being normally slightlybelow the upper surface of the carrier and disposed centrally with eachset of uprights; the descent of the tables is cushioned by springs 18,so as to absorb any shock or jar that might possibly cause breakage ofthe bottles or agitation of the contents.

The upper surface of the table 17 is provided with a series of recessesor pockets, disposed in rows or otherwise, and adapted to receive andretain a ball 19, in each pocket, free to revolve in any direction. Inthe simplest form, the cases contact directly with the balls, whichproject slightly above the surface; the effect being that as the table,case and bottles are raised until the tops of the bottles contact withthe interior of the bell-mouthed ends of the magazines 1, the case isshifted or adjusted bodily so that all of the several bottles are alinedin register with the magazines.

In the form of table shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a separate plate 20, isused as an upper section of the table, the same being normallyconstrained or positioned to agree with the lower or main portion 17, bymeans of the light springs 21, attached at opposite ends to the plateand table respectively; in this form the plate 20, rests on the balls,while the cases are disposed on the plates, which shift with the casesin any direction necessary to aline the same; obviously the springs 21,will return the plate to its original position upon the removal of anyforces tending to the contrary.

In operation, a case of empty bottles is placed on the carrier restingon the trackway at the extreme end of the machine; the carrier is thenmoved along to the position indicated by Fig. 1; thereupon the handlever is brought forward and down, thereby raising the table, elevatingthe case above the surface of the carrier-which at this time may bewithdrawn to its initial positionand operating the filling magazine;another empty case being placed on the carrierduring which time thefirst will have been filled, and in readiness for a second movementforward under the stoppering mechanismwhile the newly entered case isconstant feeding means or delivery, when light weight stoppers are beingused in the machine.

IVhile I have shown the mechanism as having the stopper magazinesdisposed at an angle, I do not wish to be understood as in any waylimiting myself to that precise method of construction; neither do Idesire to limit myself to any particular form of catch employed, ortothe number which I may make use of, as obviously, these matters dependupon, and must conform to, the style of stopper being used.

What I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a bottlefilling mechanism, of a stoppering mechanism comprising a plurality ofangularly disposed stopper magazines, each having means for discharginga single stopper, consisting of pivoted catches having detentsprotruding inwardly through the magazine walls, a horizontally disposedrigid plate having cam shaped apertures adapted to operate said catchesupon raising or lowering said magazines and means for raising orlowering said magazines, said means being operatively combined with thebottle filling mechanism.

2. A sto pering mechanism comprising a plurality of angularly disposedstopper magazines, each having a plurality of catches pivotallyconnected near the lower end of said magazines, detent fingersprotruding inwardly through the walls of the magazines from the saidcatches below the pivotal point thereof, integral arms extending'upwardly from the pivotal point of the catches, a horizontally disposedplate rigidly secured to the mechanism acting as a guide for the lowerends of the magazines and containing cam shaped apertures adapted tooperate the arms of'said catches upon raising or lowering the magazinestherethrough and means operatively combined for raisin 3. A stopperingmechanism comprising a plurality of perpendicularly disposed stoppermagazines, each having a plurality of catches pivotally connected nearthe lower end of the magazines, detent fingers protruding inwardlythrough the walls of the magazines from the catches and below thepivotal point thereof, integral arms eXtend-' ing upward from thepivotal point of the catches, a horizontally disposed plate rigidlysecured to the mechanism acting as a guide for the lower ends of themagazines and containing cam shaped apertures adapted to 0perate thearms of said catches upon raising or lowering the magazines therethroughand means operatively combined, for raising or lowering said magazines.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a stopperde ositing mechanism, a bottle case carrier anc means of manipulationthereof, of a bottle elevating table having a plurality of pockets onthe upper surface thereof, a ball disposed in each pocket, said ballsextending slightly above the surface of said table and means forelevating the said table.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a bottlestopper depositing mechanism and a bottle supplying means, of

an elevating table having a plurality of ball pockets formed in itsupper surface, balls disposed therein, one for each pocket, a plateresting on said balls, means for flexibly controlling said plate adaptedto normally maintain said plate perpendicularly coincident with saidtable and means for operating said table vertically.

6. In a" machine of the class described, a compound table having betweenthe members thereof anti-friction members adapted to permit limitedhorizontal movement to the upper member and means to return said uppermember to its initial position, all substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH H. BRANDT.

' Witnesses CI-IAs. I-I. WEsTBRooK, J OHN C. MOKELVEY.

